Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

phiwong t1_izrpczj wrote

Calling GE an appliance company is like calling Apple an earbud company.

It is/was one of the largest maker of electric power generation, defense stuff (like most of the engines in submarines, aircraft carriers, jet engines etc), medical equipment, plastics, communications etc. It pioneered many industries. NBC (one of the big 3 TV broadcasters today) was formed by GE.

GE, in its day, was THE company in the USA. In 2000, GE was the largest market cap company in the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric

74

lasertitsnow t1_izuwlbb wrote

GE blew it by getting into finance. With factories all over the world able to make nearly any complex machine the value of GE was stable and undeniable, a blue chip stock. Getting into finance tied GE to the ups and downs of financial markets.

2

BobChica t1_izrovl2 wrote

Appliances have always been only a small part of General Electric's business, much as appliances like Frigidaire were just a small part of General Motors' business.

Besides making radio transmitters and receivers and being a big player in the early broadcasting industry, GE really hit the big time making equipment for the country's electrical infrastructure, like transformers and turbines for electrical generation. This translated into turbochargers for aircraft during WWII and then into jet engines.

GE didn't just make the gun for the A-10; it also produced the TF34 engines that power it.

21

drblah1 t1_izru23d wrote

Fun fact: General Electric doesn't own GE Appliances. It has been majority owned by Chinese multinational home appliances company Haier since 2016. The company was owned by General Electric until 2016, and it was previously known as GE Appliances & Lighting and GE Consumer & Industrial. Haier has the right to use the GE brand name until 2056.

15

747ER t1_izruair wrote

OP may be interested to know that a good 60-70% of the commercial aircraft they have flown on were powered by engines made by General Electric (or their affiliate company, CFM International). For me and many people who work in aviation, General Electric will always be an engine manufacturer first, appliance company second.

15

Hinermad t1_izs4eap wrote

I worked for a manager who had been an electrical engineer at GE Aerospace, designing jet engine controls. One of the best bosses I ever had.

4

SamtheCossack t1_izsogdr wrote

General Electric was the largest manufacturing company in the world for more then half a century, and was the most valuable company in the world as recently as 2005.

Defining them as an "Appliance Company" is perhaps one of the most dramatic oversimplifications I have seen on here.

10

shinmeat t1_izsc8n4 wrote

I think OP should post another TIL later today, with everything they learned about GE. That could be a quality post. What single person knows everything GE had their hands on, probably not even Jack Welch.

Did you know that GE was founded by Edison?

7

darkbee83 t1_izrth5x wrote

Brrrrrt.

r/brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt

5

poizon_elff t1_izsbode wrote

GE is a true power player, in my line of work they make electrical switchgear and circuit breakers. The Entelliguard and Power Defense breaker trip units are some of the most sophisticated and in-demand in the game. Electrical contractors are having to make substitutions because the lead time can be 1-2 years right now.

3

Deluxe78 t1_izsq7wg wrote

Hopefully they last longer then my dryer

1

Plus-Ad-940 t1_izt41u4 wrote

If you have an old GE washer/dryer set, you can make one at home!

1

cabur t1_iztbp38 wrote

Tell me you are too young to remember 9/11 without telling me you are too young to remember 9/11.

1

KGBspy t1_j075yqa wrote

I was just at this museum a few days ago and in front of this gun and A-10, that museum is unbelievable and is something to see.

1

cabur t1_iztbzjh wrote

Tell me you were born post 2000 without telling me you were born post 2000

0